Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Wayne X. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Wayne, so happy you were able to devote some time to sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our community. So, we’ve always admired how you have seemingly never let nay-sayers or haters keep you down. Can you talk to us about how to persist despite the negative energy that so often is thrown at folks trying to do something special with their lives?
My entire life since birth has been a mistake. I was born into brokenness and the fact I still exist at all is a miracle. I had two mothers who were disappointments and naysayers from the very beginning…I’m quite used to existing on the fringe as the “it” child. I was unwanted, abused for being curious, and abandoned repeatedly by what people call “family.” In my existence- there is no safety or home or place that I truly fit in.
I’ve always been the weird one who was bullied for just existing. My entire existence as a child was violence and torment, and being judged for small benign factors that I had no control over. For example: in grade school, I was bullied for being the wrong color. In middle school, I was bullied for being too much of an outsider- though I hardly spoke. In high school I was bullied for being gay (even though I wasn’t), but also for just being weird. I never cared about fitting in and I guess that was threatening? I’m not sure.
I’m still not sure how to process what I’ve been through or experienced. It’s like I wake up and just know that I’m not the standard assembly line human. Some parts were broken and just shoved together to make a working model I suppose?
I have truly never felt safe or secure in friendship or romance or “home.” I believe all my adversity and pain makes me too numb to care. I think the part of the soul that is receptive to being liked and belonging in a group, isn’t functioning inside of me anymore. I can’t really remember a time when I felt I belonged or was accepted for being me… I think I’m so used to being on the outside that I don’t really pay much attention to the naysayers who are too cowardly to even chase their dreams- anyway.
Why would I care about people who live in fear and transfer that pain to the world around them?
I think from a young age I really got to see the only adage: “People hate what they don’t understand.”
I persist because I have no choice. The damage done makes me determined to matter and create a life that is worth the pain.
We have this quote we keep in mind when dealing with the naysayers:
“When I almost drowned, I decided I would never again be weaker than water. so I became a lifeguard. on my first day of training, my instructor told me that there are going to be times when you see someone in trouble. you’re going to want to rush in there and do whatever you can to save them. but you have to stop yourself. because there are some people you can’t save. because those people will thrash and struggle and try to take you down with them.” This is from the show Bojack Horseman.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
We are focused on an artistic career that pushes the boundaries of sound and performance. The thing about us is that we like multiple genres and types of media/art.
We can stream Deathcore or Jazz, but also rock out to some Bach or Vivaldi. We really don’t box ourselves in. If you listen to certain songs on our latest album, you’ll hear pieces that take a classical approach. The song “Love and Anarchy,” is a song that doesn’t repeat any singular parts and is written in various movements like a classical composition. In the song “Porcelain Dream,” we are using quite a few jazz chords and it honestly intrigues me that it somehow feels natural for us…especially for not being a jazz band. There’s a refrain section that we love because of how a complex part we wrote… sounds simple. Even in our song “Kill Yourself” which sounds metal- there are things written that do not fit the genre. We take pride in that.
We are very big into the romantic period of literature, and art. Wayne specifically is a major fan of Oscar Wilde. It’s weird because you will literally see him watch Bojack Horseman, but also read the Wall Street Journal and MarketWatch. He’s a complex, multilayered individual. He’s always talking about the realities of an anarchist society while buying a fancy coffee because he’s SUPER into coffee.
The thing about Avery Indigo as a band is: We will venture down paths musically and lyrically just to see what happens. There’s seldom a bad idea in this band. We all have super hyperactive brains that can turn a two-note melody into a song that somehow incorporates Americana and power punk. There are no rules or topics off-limits in this band. In fact, very often we discuss the politics of the week during rehearsals. We don’t even have to agree with each other, we are just happy we can have these conversations and still keep respect for each other.
One point of discussion lately is about fashion and style. We tend to all agree that cliche fashion choices, tend to be embarrassing and unoriginal. We truly believe that how you express yourself with music is just as important as what you say with your fashion sense. Wayne for example is a big Dr. Martens, Tripp NYC, and Fred Perry fan. He loves wild designs and color clashing. Catch him at a show to see the outfit of the night which usually includes hard-to-find items.
In summary, we live music as a lifestyle and treat other parts of our lives as art- such as cooking, family time, and adventure. Even if we never played another note, our lives would still be an art project.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The advice we would give to people just starting their journey is to have integrity and stay teachable. Do not let your fragile ego rule the way you live your life. If you meet someone smarter and more talented than you- learn from them. What you could spend 6 years learning, they could teach you in an hour. Learn to sit down and shut the fuck up. For us, the most valuable skills learned are to be adaptable, reliable, and dedicated. We think that having these three traits puts you eons above most people in the arts. So many artists can’t get out of their own way. Just be a student for life and learn everything you can. That boring day job you’re working that requires you to be in at 8am and out by 5pm? That job is teaching you perseverance, and discipline, and allowing your brain to daydream through the boredom. Inspiration can be found anywhere. Get rid of the ideas of perfection and don’t try to be liked. Fuck it. There’s one life and one you. Be that. Use that.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
We are always looking for exciting collaborations! Right now we are really looking for a creative director and photographer. We are really trying to get our visual content to the next level and need someone with an outsider visionary approach. Please just send a DM on our page. It’s the fastest way to reach us!
Contact Info:
- Website: averyindigoband.com
- Instagram: @averyindigoband
- Other: https://bio.link/averyindigoband
